My Fundraising Page

One special thing about TNT is that we dedicate our efforts, to honored people, called Honorees. They are those who are fighting cancer, in remission, cancer free, or have tragically lost their battles with a lymphoma, leukemia, or myeloma. Honorees can be friends, family, or someone you might know of that has battled one of these cancers.

Please let me know if you have someone you would like to be on my race t-shirt I’ll be wearing during the Nike Women's Marathon by emailing me at fay@pacbell.net

Uncle Junior

A few weeks ago, a young man, on the Willow Glen High School's football team, came to my front door selling a $20 coupon booklet to raise money for new uniforms and to maintain their football field. Before he could recite his rehearsed sales pitch, I told him I would buy a coupon booklet because I am raising money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and since I have had so many generous family, friends and strangers donate that I wanted to return the favor.

I noticed his attitude had become solemn as he took a deep breath and told me that it meant a lot that I was raising money for that specific cause. He then went on to tell me that he has lost members of his family to cancer; more specifically, his uncle just passed away from leukemia. He was speechless and overjoyed when I asked him if I could wear his uncle's name on my race t-shirt on October 14th.

He wrote his uncle's name down for me, I gave him a big hug and we both completely forgot about the $20 I owed him, which resulted in me running down the street to give him his money.

Bonnie Ross

While attending the Donate Life Walk on Saturday, I was introduced to my bestfriend's 2nd cousin, not knowing that she had lost her sister to leukemia a few years ago. I started talking about how I am training for a marathon and about how I just accomplished my goal of raising $2,500 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at my fundraising event.

Tears filled her eyes as she told me she lost her sister to leukemia. I immediately told her that I would be honored to have her sister's name on my race t-shirt. She broke down crying and gave me a huge hug because she could not believe 1) I raised that much money and 2) I will put her sister's name on my race t-shirt.

Fay Cleveland, a member of Team in Training, is hosting a fundraiser at Sonoma Chicken Coop in Downtown Campbell on Thursday, September 6 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphona Society.

There are two ways to help Fay raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

1) Purchase food and drink at Sonoma Chicken Coop in Downtown Campbell on September 6, 11am-10pm and present this flier when ordering. 15% of all food and drinks orders will be donated directly to the organization.

2) Play Bingo with us, 6pm-10pm, and enjoy the music of Patrick T. McCauley, who will be performing live! Suggested donation is $20 per person. You could win great prizes from local businesses! If you'd like to participate in Bingo, please RSVP to Fay at 408-726-1996.

Recently, I was inspired to lace up my sneakers and run the Nike Women’s Marathon in honor of Jake Heimburger, who will be a freshman at Bellarmine this Fall. We are both St. Christopher alumni. Today, I am happy to report that Jake’s leukemia is in remission. Unfortunately, Jake’s story is not uncommon. By completing the Nike Women’s Marathon and raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I can help improve the quality of life for patients, like Jake, and their families.

Please support me in this effort by sponsoring my first marathon (26.2 miles) with a tax-deductible donation for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It is the continued research that will allow us to find a cure.

I thank you in advance for your support because we can make a difference.

I'm going to run a marathon. Think I’m crazy? Truth be told, you may not be so far off the mark! As of right now, I can't run very far or for a very long time. 26.2 miles seems like a really long way to go. I mean, really really long (try watching your car's odometer on a trip until you hit 26.2 miles - it's far!). So, am I crazy? Well, a couple of very sane reasons are driving my decision to run:

I have been truly and deeply inspired by the individuals that are apart of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program, some of them, like me, do not fit the traditional stereotype of a marathoner. If they can do it, so can I! Maybe we’re all a little crazy, but we are also powerfully determined!

I will not just be running for myself, but in support of an organization that is dedicated to curing lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improving the lives of patients and their families. I studied these diseases in college and learned that a life can change on the drop of a dime, which emphasizes the importance of seizing an opportunity to make a difference when you can.

In exchange for fundraising, Team In Training will help me cross that finish line on October 14, 2012 by providing coaching and medical guidance. Being apart of this team has made one very important thing clear to me: you can never take anything for granted. So here I am, seizing my opportunity.

My goals are two-fold: one, to cross the finish line of the Nikes Women’s Marathon (even if I have to crawl to do it!); and two, to raise a minimum of $2,500 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'm hoping you will be able to help me with both of these goals.

Your encouragement and positive reinforcement will go an incredibly long way in helping me complete this marathon. Your financial support will not only help save the lives of those afflicted with blood-related cancers, but also make their lives more comfortable and manageable while they are fighting – and winning against - the disease. Consider also that many of the strides that are made toward curing blood-related cancers translate into making a difference in fighting all types of cancers.

If you are so inspired to take up this tremendous cause, please feel free to share my fundraising page with anyone who might be inclined to help. Every contribution will have an impact, will be acknowledged personally by me, and will be appreciated by so very many.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.